Summer 2016!

This summer has been a busy one for me. I felt like I had about two weeks between the next camp out, high adventure, youth conference etc. it took all my focus. I am grateful Jon was able to create some really fun memories with the kids. They really had some adventures!
As always, summer starts out with Memorial Day and celebrate Daddy's birthday. We all pick-nicked at a local park after visiting Grandma Taylor's grave and it was lovely!

There is always a birthday to celebrate with my group of gals, or some reason to get together. Every June we take the Historical Home tours in the different historic neighborhoods in Provo, then stop to share a treat somewhere that has outdoor dining. This weather is heavenly and I can smell those blossoms through the picture!

Kelly, me, Mary, Mindy and Elizabeth

Trying to fit in outings with these kids so they don't feel too neglected while I'm off with the youth.

Jon and friend Nathan took the big boys on a really fun looking camping trip to Escalante. I loved the pictures he brought home! Here is only a small handful of the adventure.

WOW!

Paisley, Zeke and I had some fun at home. And of course, Paisley had this waiting for the boys when they arrived:

We celebrated our fun Dad on Father's Day~ who is always up for an adventure and because of him we have seen all sorts of sights and mountains around Utah. He's a number ONE Dad, and we sure love him to pieces!

Adren was off to his first FULL week of Scout Camp! That's a long time, people!

It was hard to send him off partly because he was going to be gone for so long, and the packing list seemed to be full of useless information. Would he really use a poncho? No. Adren could not have been less concerned about packing so I had to be all the concerned. Nonetheless, he came home filthy dirty, very chapped lips (Carmex tube still sealed and in the side pocket of his bag) and happy. I guess it always works out. I have to chuckle at the comparison of Girls Camp planning vs the Young Men planning. The kids were happy for his arrival back home Saturday.

After this picture he took a 3 hour nap.

And of course, Paisley made sure he came home to this:

Jon took the kids to Weeping Rock while I was gone with the youth.

And then took the boys rock climbing, again with Nathan and his boys. I'm so glad they've tried this!

thcary.

Zeke spends his time being an adorable little seven year old, left up to his imagination.

Zeke is a delight.

Adren got some summer sleepover time with Brett. Good, big boys.

Oh, yeah. Maguire was here, too!

Ross let the family know Stadium Avenue was open for business during the Stadium of Fire. We all gathered once again for a pot luck dinner and BBQ, fireworks and lots of running around and playing. It was fun to be back! I walked through the empty rooms of that house, and thought of the millions of memories I have, of every single corner and room. So much has happened inside those walls! My goodness!
Our family rode our bikes home that night on the Provo River Trail in the warm July night, full of crowds and fireworks shooting off around us. That is, until we got to the pitch dark river trail (we only had Jon's one flashlight to light our way) We'd pass shady groups of people or the random homeless person asleep on the side of the trail. Nonetheless, a fun memory!

We looked forward to the annual Taylor family camp out and Lagoon extravaganza. The highlight of the summer for us!

These cousins!

Abby and Matt know the area real well, of course and led us on the most beautiful hike to a beautiful lake and rope swing! It was so pretty! We sat and ate our sack lunches and played and played. Those kids were able to keep up on the hike with those little legs!

Soap Carving

We were camping on the actual the Fourth of July. We hiked up to the boulders and watched the fireworks around the valley while singing patriotic songs. I still can't believe Mommy hiked up to the top! It was so dark on the way down, so lots of stumbling but it was a beautiful, warm night.

We swapped boys with the Taylors that night and swapped back at Lagoon the next day. I cringed a little sending filthy Eli off to the Taylor van, but assumed he was in similar company. We took Max and I think it was fun for him to be on his own and get all the attention. On the way out of Heber we stopped at Malleries work and enjoyed a snow cone at her shack. What a treat!

Eli partying at the Taylors!

Lagoon!

I told Zeke we should look at each other when we go upside down on Colossus. I'll never forget his wide eyes peeking over at me.

Zeke's first ride on Wicked! Eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Paisley was not in the mood to go to the pool one day, but I could not ignore Zeke's begging one minute more. I told her she could bring some friends, which made her more cooperative. I got us settled in the shade so I could read a book while they ran and swam. The girls had packed games, snacks and toys and after a while I asked when they would go swim. Paisley reminded me she wasn't in the mood and they didn't even bring swimsuits.

Jon finds time to take the kids out one-on-one for a little lunch and alone time.

Jon is grateful for Eli's love of Sushi!

Paisley convinced dad to put her in a ticket-blowing booth on their date to the mall.

Speaking of dates...

Sweet little shot of brotherly love:

More glorious hiking for Jon~

Top of Mt. Nebo

I keep telling my YW how they are sitting on a jackpot in our neighborhood with all the little kids around. I tell them most moms will gladly pay a bright young gal to take her kids for an hour or two and teach art, sports, cooking- we don't care, really. Just take the kids for a couple of hours on a summer day! Amiright? So when the gal across the street advertised an art class a couple days a week, I just had to support. Paisley and Zeke really liked it!

More cousin sleepovers! We had Harrison and Charlie over after Max's baptism- Eli stayed a night at the Taylors, then the boys wanted to keep partying at our house. It always makes summer extra fun to have a cousin swap!

I sent this to Lindsey when she texted to see if the boys were doing ok. They're fiiiiiiiiiiiiiine. I made homemade scones with Nutella! (and some gluten-free cookies for Harrison, of course!) We met up at Ikea for the swap-back.

Sweet Paisley is one to leave little love notes all over the place for Jon and I. I've even been awoken early in the wee hours of the morning to see her sneaking a note in and setting it on my nightstand. Sometimes they're in the car waiting for me- she really is the sweetest.

You know what? I am nice. And I think I know exactly who that is from.

Tender thing.

Also- Paisley is bonkers for french braiding! She likes to practice as much as she can. I wish it felt really good- but I think it's making me thin with all the hair ripping out. Afterwards she takes pictures or video to show me her work. She's really good! I end up wearing the braids a lot- much to her delight. Sweet thing.

As the summer began to draw to a close, the boys received much needed haircuts. Zeke, especially had grown his hair longer than ever, claiming he didn't want to cut it because he was "copying Eli's life". But he agreed he would look nice and sharp starting 2nd grade with a new haircut. I had to snap some pics of his long, odd-textured hair one morning after we brushed it out. Then he let me curl it and we had a good chuckle. Then we cut it.

Devron and I were able to squeeze in Casablanca at the very last second. We left on a Sunday, and then raced back as quickly as we could on Tuesday to make it to the last hour of Back to School night at the Elementary. We got the kids unpacked from the fun weekend and got everyone ready for the big first day the next morning! But- Casablanca was a great way to end the summer with a bang!